There are a lot of reasons people love living in West Virginia. I’m sure everyone has their own thoughts about why it’s so special. These are a few of mine.

  1. There’s much history here.

By Mark Fickett - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12429272 Like at Harpers Ferry, the scene of John Brown’s Raid, one of the triggering events of the Civil War. Harpers Ferry, WV 25425, USA

  1. We know how to party.

Flickr user: Governor Earl Ray Tomblin Like this party we threw in 2013 for our 150th birthday.

  1. We love adventure.

apelletr/iStock / Getty Images Plus From white water rafting the New and Gauley rivers to rock climbing and zip lining, there’s no shortage of adventure in the Mountain State.

  1. We have hip small towns.

The City of Lewisburg/Facebook Like Fayetteville and Lewisburg, which have each been named “Coolest Small Town.” Lewisburg, WV 24901, USA

  1. And hip cities.

Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant), CC BY-SA 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons If small town life doesn’t suit you, we have really cool cities, too. Like Charleston and Huntington.

  1. And great sports teams.

John Duffy from Worcester, MA, USA, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Like the Mountaineers football and the Thundering Herd basketball and Power baseball.

  1. There’s great music.

Brian Blauser/WVPublicBroadcasting From Mountain Stage to the Vandalia Gathering to our local bands and musicians, there are always opportunities to hear great music in the Mountain State.

  1. Autumn here will take your breath away.

http://www.ForestWander.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 US , via Wikimedia Commons The colors on the trees are so beautiful.

  1. And did we mention winter?

http://www.ForestWander.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 US , via Wikimedia Commons Because that’s pretty spectacular too.

  1. And spring?

ForestWander.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 US , via Wikimedia Commons You get the picture. Every season is beautiful in its own way when you’re living in West Virginia.

  1. So much nature.

Jason Pratt From hiking to hunting and fishing, there are plenty of ways to enjoy nature in West Virginia. And there’s a ton of forestland to wander through.

  1. Even the starts look more beautiful here.

http://www.ForestWander.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 US , via Wikimedia Commons Look how beautiful this night sky is.

  1. We have the best people in the world.

Jimmy Kuhn, CC BY-SA 1.0 , via Wikimedia Commons While we have a lot of natural beauty, the people here really are our best natural resource.

What do you think are the best things about living in West Virginia?

By Mark Fickett - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12429272

Like at Harpers Ferry, the scene of John Brown’s Raid, one of the triggering events of the Civil War.

Harpers Ferry, WV 25425, USA

Flickr user: Governor Earl Ray Tomblin

Like this party we threw in 2013 for our 150th birthday.

apelletr/iStock / Getty Images Plus

From white water rafting the New and Gauley rivers to rock climbing and zip lining, there’s no shortage of adventure in the Mountain State.

The City of Lewisburg/Facebook

Like Fayetteville and Lewisburg, which have each been named “Coolest Small Town.”

Lewisburg, WV 24901, USA

Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant), CC BY-SA 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons

If small town life doesn’t suit you, we have really cool cities, too. Like Charleston and Huntington.

John Duffy from Worcester, MA, USA, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Like the Mountaineers football and the Thundering Herd basketball and Power baseball.

Brian Blauser/WVPublicBroadcasting

From Mountain Stage to the Vandalia Gathering to our local bands and musicians, there are always opportunities to hear great music in the Mountain State.

http://www.ForestWander.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 US , via Wikimedia Commons

The colors on the trees are so beautiful.

Because that’s pretty spectacular too.

ForestWander.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 US , via Wikimedia Commons

You get the picture. Every season is beautiful in its own way when you’re living in West Virginia.

Jason Pratt

From hiking to hunting and fishing, there are plenty of ways to enjoy nature in West Virginia. And there’s a ton of forestland to wander through.

Look how beautiful this night sky is.

Jimmy Kuhn, CC BY-SA 1.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

While we have a lot of natural beauty, the people here really are our best natural resource.

Here is a funny list of things West Virginians do that seem unusual to outsiders.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Living In West Virginia August 04, 2022 Bill Hall What is life like in West Virginia? One thing people notice is all the winding roads and steep hills. Plus you’ll want to watch out for deer while driving. This means it may take a bit longer to get from place to place. However, many places in awesome parts of the country are like this.  There is a lot of pride for the Mountaineers. Sports are a great way to come together, and it’s been a traditional part of life in West Virginia to celebrate with blue and gold for quite some time. The soil in West Virginia is rich, so you will find yourself visiting farmers’ markets. You will be amazed by the availability of fresh vegetables. Produce just tastes better in these parts. You may end up gardening too. It’s easier here. You will eventually end up eating a West Virginia hot dog. This arrives with something called either chili or sauce. (It depends on where you are, but most non-West Virginians would call it chili.) There will also be some slaw, mustard, and onions on there if it’s done right. It’s so good. There is a thing called a pepperoni roll that you’ll want to try. You’ll see them around. It’s a food that originates from the coal mines, in the same way as a Cornish pastie, but more like a country roll with a stick of pepperoni inside. These were perfect for the mines because they easily fit in your hand and could be eaten quickly. It is a unique part of West Virginia cuisine. It’s also yummy. Last, this is a beautiful place. It’s neat to live where most people do take the time to appreciate how lovely their surroundings are. It won’t be long before you decide going slow on those winding roads isn’t so bad. 

The OIYS Visitor Center

Living In West Virginia

August 04, 2022

Bill Hall

What is life like in West Virginia? One thing people notice is all the winding roads and steep hills. Plus you’ll want to watch out for deer while driving. This means it may take a bit longer to get from place to place. However, many places in awesome parts of the country are like this.  There is a lot of pride for the Mountaineers. Sports are a great way to come together, and it’s been a traditional part of life in West Virginia to celebrate with blue and gold for quite some time. The soil in West Virginia is rich, so you will find yourself visiting farmers’ markets. You will be amazed by the availability of fresh vegetables. Produce just tastes better in these parts. You may end up gardening too. It’s easier here. You will eventually end up eating a West Virginia hot dog. This arrives with something called either chili or sauce. (It depends on where you are, but most non-West Virginians would call it chili.) There will also be some slaw, mustard, and onions on there if it’s done right. It’s so good. There is a thing called a pepperoni roll that you’ll want to try. You’ll see them around. It’s a food that originates from the coal mines, in the same way as a Cornish pastie, but more like a country roll with a stick of pepperoni inside. These were perfect for the mines because they easily fit in your hand and could be eaten quickly. It is a unique part of West Virginia cuisine. It’s also yummy. Last, this is a beautiful place. It’s neat to live where most people do take the time to appreciate how lovely their surroundings are. It won’t be long before you decide going slow on those winding roads isn’t so bad. 

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

One thing people notice is all the winding roads and steep hills. Plus you’ll want to watch out for deer while driving. This means it may take a bit longer to get from place to place. However, many places in awesome parts of the country are like this. 

There is a lot of pride for the Mountaineers. Sports are a great way to come together, and it’s been a traditional part of life in West Virginia to celebrate with blue and gold for quite some time.

The soil in West Virginia is rich, so you will find yourself visiting farmers’ markets. You will be amazed by the availability of fresh vegetables. Produce just tastes better in these parts. You may end up gardening too. It’s easier here.

You will eventually end up eating a West Virginia hot dog. This arrives with something called either chili or sauce. (It depends on where you are, but most non-West Virginians would call it chili.) There will also be some slaw, mustard, and onions on there if it’s done right. It’s so good.

There is a thing called a pepperoni roll that you’ll want to try. You’ll see them around. It’s a food that originates from the coal mines, in the same way as a Cornish pastie, but more like a country roll with a stick of pepperoni inside. These were perfect for the mines because they easily fit in your hand and could be eaten quickly. It is a unique part of West Virginia cuisine. It’s also yummy.

Last, this is a beautiful place. It’s neat to live where most people do take the time to appreciate how lovely their surroundings are. It won’t be long before you decide going slow on those winding roads isn’t so bad.